The production of activated carbons (ACs) from dirty plastic wastes derived from the mechanical/biological treatment of urban solid wastes, disposable plastics and plastics used in agriculture is reported. The use of these precursors is innovative and contributes to the circular economy by the valorization of dirty plastics that are usually disposed in landfills. ACs were produced by physical activation, with air or CO 2 , and chemical activation, with KOH or K 2 CO 3 . ACs presented a BET (N 2 ) area and pore volume up to 723 m 2 /g and 0.32 cm 3 /g. Selected samples were tested for the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and 4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) removal from the liquid phase. PB-K 2 CO 3 -1:1-700 presented an apparent maximum adsorption capacity of 245 and 289 mg g À1 for MCPA and 2,4-D, respectively.

The increase in agricultural production and food quality has forced the growing use of plastics in various activities. The plastic wastes are partially recycled in or outside Portugal; nevertheless, the contaminated wastes are sent to landfill. It is crucial to consider new models for their valorization at a regional level and from a circular economy perspective. In the scope of the Placarvões project, a study was elaborated, which included the types and quantities of plastics used in the irrigation area of the Alqueva Dam, in southern Portugal. The crops that use the most plastic are intensive olive groves, almonds, and table grapes, which represent more than 91% of total plastic waste. The production of activated carbons (ACs) is a solution to avoid plastics landfill. ACs were produced from plastic used on food packaging (PB-Samples) and sheeting film (PS-Samples) by activation with K2CO3. ACs presented well-developed textural properties (PB-K2CO3-1:1–700 and PS-K2CO3-1:1–700 exhibited a volume of 0.32 and 0.25 cm3 g−1 and an apparent surface area of 723 and 623 m2 g−1, respectively). Both ACs performed very well concerning four pesticide removals from the liquid phase. This solution is very promising, such these ACs could be applied in effluent treatments on a large scale.